Type-writing machine.



B. G. STIGKNEY. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 191a.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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BUBNHAM C. STICKNEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASS-IGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWBITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPO- RATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 19, 1915.

Original application filed July 6, 1911, Serial No. 637,049. Divided and this application filed June 9, 1913.

Serial No. 772,545.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BURNHAM C. STICK- NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypelVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to'means for releasing the platen from the line-space wheel of typewriting machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a secure connection between the line-space wheel and the platen, and also permit adjustment of the platen relatively to the linespace wheel through any desired fractional part of a line-space.

The present application is a division of my co-pending application No. 637,049, filed July 6, 1911.

This case shows a friction clutch, and the principal object of the invention is to secure an effective control of the platen, to minimize or obviate the liability of overthrow thereof at the line-spacing operation.

In the form of the invention herein shown, a gear is secured to the line-space wheel, and an arm is fixed to the axle to which the platen is also connected. This arm carries a pinion in mesh with said gear. An idle arm is also provided movable about the platen axle independently of the platen and line-space wheel, and having an idle pinion in mesh with said gear. To each of these pinions is fixed a friction member in any suitable form, for instance a wheel or disk, said disks or members being held to gether by a spring, the frictional contact of the disks preventing simultaneous rotation of said pinions in the same direction, and thereby locking the gear against rotation on the platen axle. Relative movement of the platen and line-space wheel is thus prevented. The friction disks are of greater diameter than the pinions, so that the holding power obtained at the friction surfaces is multiplied, and an eflective control of the platen is thereby secured. A finger-piece is connected to means for separating the frictional disks at will, so that the platen may be rotated independently of the line-space wheel, and said spring thereafter returns the friction disks into engagement with. each other, thus reconnecting the platen t0 the line-space wheel. I also illustrate an additional arm, also carrying a pinion in mesh wlth' said gear and provided with a friction disk. The arm which is fixed to the platen axle occupies a position between thetwo idle or loose arms, and the same spring operates on the two loose arms to hold their friction disks in contact with the disk on the fixed arm.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a side elevation, showing a line-space wheel and the combined mechanism comprising the present invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation view partly in section of the linespace wheel and connected parts. Fig. 3 1s a longitudinal section of the invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the releasing lever. Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagram illustrating the internal gear and the friction disks. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, showing the releasing lever and casing which incloses the gearing.

A cylindrical platen 1 is fixed by a pin 2 upon an axle 3 which is journaled in the usual manner in the ends 4 of the platen frame and projects beyond said ends and carries at each end a knob 5 fixed to the platen axle. Loose upon the platen axle is a line-space wheel 6 having a hub 7. The line-space wheel is held in normal position by a detent 8, and is operated by the usual mechanism including a driving pawl 9. Fixed upon the line-space wheel 6 is an annular internal gear 10. seated in an annular flange 11, which projects from the face of the line-space wheel. Fixed upon the platen axle 3 is a hub 12 of an arm 13, to the. free end of which is pivoted a pinion 14: mesning closely with the gear 10.

Loose upon the platen axle 3 is an arm 15 carrying a pinion 16 also in mesh with the gear 10. Also loose upon said axle is an arm 17 carrying a pinion 18 likewise in mesh with said gear. Fixed to the pinion 16 is a friction wheel or disk 19, and fixed to the pinion 18 is a friction wheel or disk 20. A friction disk 21 is likewise secured to the pinion 14. A spring 22 holds the disks 19 and 20 in frictional contact with. the disk 21, each of said disks consisting of or being faced with suitable material 23, such for example as leather, to form a friction-holding surface. The spring 22 is connected at one end to an extension 24 of the loose arm 15, and at the other end to an extension 25 of the loose arm 17 said extensions being preferably upon the opposite side of the platen axle from the pinions.

To release the platen from the line-space wheel, a button or finger-piece 26 is pressed toward the right at Figs. 1 and 8, said button being mounted upon a pair of stems 27 extending through perforations in the knob 5, and at the inner ends connected to a disk or plate 28 having a hub 29 slidable on the platen axle 3. This disk 28 is pressed against and moves the shoulder formed upon a lever 31 pivoted at 33 to the arm 13; the lever having a forked portion 32 to bestride the platen axle. At its lower end, the lever has a finger 8 1 with a beveled or pointed tip providing cam surfaces which work between ends of the extensions 2 1- and 25 and cam them apart, thereby swinging the arms 15 and 17 away from the arm 13 and separating the friction disks. The platen may now be rotated to bring any point thereof to the line of writing, while the line-space wheel is held stationary by the detent 8. Upon releasing the finger piece 26, the spring 22 restores the arms 15 and 17, and also returns the finger piece to normal position. The friction disks are again brought together as at Figs. 2 and 5, and the line-space wheel thus secured to the platen.

It will be seen that, if it be attempted to rotate the platen and arm 13 in a direction to carry the pinion 14 bodily to the right, Fig. 5, said pinion will tend to rotate upon its own axis in a counter-clockwise direction, because of its connection with the gear 10, and the friction surface of the disk 21 will tend to rotate the disk 19 in a clockwise direction, but this tendency is opposed by the annular gear. Tn other words, any rotation of the annular gear relatively to the platen axle, while the disks 19 and 21 are in contact, would simultaneously r0- tate the pinions 1 1 and 16 upon their axes in the same angular direction, but such rotation is opposed by the contacting frictional surfaces of the disks 19 and 21, which would thereby be moved in opposite direction at their point of contact. The disks 20 and 21 likewise oppose any rotation of the annular gear relatively to the platen in either direction. It will thus be seen that the disk 21 in combination with either of the disks 19 and 20, forms a friction clutch or brake, each of the disks comprising a friction clutch member or brake member. The pinion 1 1 when held against rotation by the friction disks, forms a locking gear to pre vent relative rotation of the platen andline space wheel. The friction disks are preferably made of larger diameter than their pinions, whereby the holding power of the friction surfaces is more effective, that is, any power applied at the pitch line of a pinion and tending to rotate said pinion, is counteracted by an increased holding power at the surface of the friction disk owing to the larger diameter of the disk as compared with its pinion. The holding power is thereby not only more effective, but any slippage that may take place at the friction surfaces is reduced at the pitch line of the annular gear. The friction surfaces permit adjustment of the platen relatively to the line-space wheel through any fractional part of a line-space, and a finer adjustment may thereby be obtained than if ratchet teeth or the like were used in place of the friction surfaces.

The releasing lever 31 is provided with dead or dwell surfaces or edges 36 adjacent to the opposite cam surfaces 35. Said dwell surfaces are intended to engage the ends of the extensions 24 and 25 of the arms 15 and 17 and hold them apart mechanically, so that the operator may, by first pressing the finger piece in as far as it will o, use both hands, if desired, when adjusting the platen and the worksheet, while upon subsequently pulling out the linger piece, the disk 28 will engage a hook 37 on said lever 81 and return the lever to normal position, Fig. 8. If it is nrt desired to lock the arms apart, the operator will not press the button in so far.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a train of gearing connecting them comprising an annular gear and a pinion in mesh with said gear, a fricit tion disk fixed to said pinion, a second pinion meshing with said gear, and a friction disk connected to said second pinion and movable into and out of contact with the first-named disk.

2. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of an annular gear on the line-space wheel, an arm fixed to the platen axle, a pinion journaled on said arm and in mesh with said gear, a second arm loose on the platen axle, a pinion journaled on said second arm and meshing with the annular gear, and friction disks secured to said pinions and movable into and out of contact.

The combination with a platen and a mesh with theannular gear, friction disks connected to said pinions, and means to swingthe loosely mounted arm to bring the friction disks into and out of engagement.

4. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a train connecting said parts and comprising an annular gear and a pinion in mesh with said gear, a friction disk carried by said pinion, pinions in mesh with said gear on opposite sides of said firstnamed pinion, friction disks on said second named pinions movable into and out of contact with the disk on said first-named pinion, and mechanism for simultaneously operating said movable disks.

5. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a train connecting said parts and comprising an annular gear and a pinion in mesh with said gear, a friction disk carried by said pinion, pinions in mesh with said gear on opposite sides of said firstnamed pinion, and friction-disks on said second-named pinions movable into and out of contact with the disk on said first-named pinion.

6. The combination of a platen having an axle fixed therein, a lino-space wheel loose on the axle, an annular gear on the line-space wheel, an arm fixed to the axle, a pinion on said arm and in mesh with said gear, arms loose on the platen axle, pinions on said loose arms in mesh with said gear, a friction disk connected to each of said pinions, and means to swing said loose arms to move the friction disks into and out of contact.

7 The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising an annular gear, a locking pinion rolling on the annular gear and having a frictional clutch member, and a brake pinion having a frictional clutch member for engagement with the clutch member on said locking pinion.

8. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a train connecting said platen to said line-space wheel and including a large gear and a small pinion rolling thereon to permit a relative movement between the platen and the line-space wheel, and'releasable friction means for preventing the rolling of said pinion, and thereby preventing relative movement between the platen and line-space wheel.

9. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train of relatively rotatable gears, and friction elements connected to said gears for relative rotation and also relatively movable with the gears of said train into frictional engagement to lock the train.

10. The combination with a platen and line-space wheel rotatable relatively thereto, of a gear connected to the line-space wheel, pinions meshing with said gear, one of said pinions being pivoted upon a member connected to the platen, friction elements con nected to the pinions to rotate therewith, spring means to hold said friction elements in engagement and thereby connect the platen and line-space wheel in any relative position of adjustment, and means to separate said friction elements to permit the platen to be rotated independently of the line-space wheel.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel,

,of a train of gears connecting said parts,

and friction means movable into and out of position to hold said train at any position of adjustment of the platen relatively to the line-space wheel.

12. The combination of a platen and. a line-space wheel having a common aXis of rotation, a connecting train including an annular gear secured to said line-space wheel, a cooperating pinion carried by said platen, a friction member connected to said pinion, and a second friction member geared to said annular gear and movable into and out of contact with the first-named friction member.

13. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising an annular gear connected to said line-space wheel and a pinion carried by said platen and in mesh with the annular gear, a friction member carried by said pinion, pinions on opposite sides of said first-named pinion and meshing with said annular gear, and friction disks connected to said pinions and movable into and out of contact with said friction member.

14. The combination with a platen and a line-spacewheel loose on the platen axle, of inter-meshing gears connected respectively to the platen and line-space wheel, a friction element having a fixed connection with the platen gear, and a second friction element having a rolling connection with the linespace wheel gear, and movable into and out of contact with said first-named friction element.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a gear secured to said wheel, a pinion meshing with said gear, a friction wheel or disk secured to the pinion, a friction member carried by a second pinion and movable into and out of engagement with said disk, a spring for moving said friction member into such engagement, and a finger-piece having means to release said friction member.

16. In a typewriting machine, the c0mbination with a platen and a line-space wheel,

of a train connecting them in a manner to permit relative adjustment of the platen and line-space wheel, sald train compr1sing an lnternal gear and a pinion 1n mesh with the a gear, a friction disk carried by and concentric with said pmion, a friction member carried by a second pinion and cooperating with said friction disk, and means to opcrate said friction member.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a line-space wheel, a train connecting them in a manner to permit relative adjustment of the platen and line-space wheel, said train comprising intermeshing gearing and a friction clutch, said clutch comprising both a member rotatable with a member of said gearing and an independently movable cooperating member, and means to operate the latter.

18. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of releasable clutching mechanism connecting them and including a gear, pinions running in mesh with said gear, friction wheels connected to said pinions, means to hold said friction wheels in contact with each other, and a finger-piece to separate said friction wheels.

19. The combination with. a platen and a line-space wheel, of releasable clutching mechanism connecting them and including a gear, pinions running in mesh with said gear, friction wheels connected to said pinions, means to hold said friction wheels in contact with each other, and a finger-piece to separate said friction wheels, the diameter of said friction wheels being greater than the diameter of the pinions.

:20. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of releasable clutching mechanism connecting them and including a gear, pinions running in mesh with said gear including an intermediate pinion and a pinion at opposite sides thereof, friction wheels connected to said pinions and having the same relative arrangement as the pinions, means to hold the side friction wheels in contact with the intermediate friction wheel, and a finger-piece to separate said friction wheels.

21. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of releasable clutching mechanism connecting them and including a gear, pinions running in mesh with said gear including an intermediate pinion and a pinion at opposite sides thereof, friction wheels connected to said pinions and having the same relative arrangement as the pin ions, means to hold the side friction wheels in contact with the intermediate friction wheel, and a finger-piece to separate said friction wheels, the diameter of said friction wheels being greater than the diameter of the pinions.

22. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising a gear concentric with the platen axle and pinions eccentric to said axle, and a clutch composed of friction wheels respectively carried by said pinions and movable therewith into and out of clutch engagement.

23. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising a gear concentric with the platen axle and pinions eccentric to said axle, one of said pinions being movable with the platen, and a clutch composed of friction wheels respectively carried by said pinions and movable therewith into and out of ch tph engagement.

v "TI- line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising a gear concentric with the platen axle and pinions eccentric to said axle, a clutch composed of friction wheels respecti rely carried by said pinions and movable therewith into and out of clutch engagement, means to hold said friction wheels in clutch engagement, and a finger-piece to release said engagement.

The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising a gear concentric with the platen axle and pinions eccentric to said axle, one of said pinions being movable with the platen, a clutch composed of friction wheels respectively carried by said pinions and movable therewith into and out of clutch engagement, means to hold said friction wheels in clutch engagement, and a fingerpiece to release said engagement.

26. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train com prising a gear concentric with the platen axle and pinions eccentric to said axle, and a clutch composed of friction Wheels respectively carried by said pinions and movable therewith into and out of clutch engage ment, said friction wheels having respec tively greater peripheral speed than the pin ons by which they are carried.

27. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a connecting train comprising a gear concentric with the platen axle and pinions eccentric to said axle, one of said pinions being movable with the platen, and a clutch composed of friction wheels respectively carried by said pinions and movable therewith into and out of clutch engagement, said friction wheels having respectively greater peripheral speed than the pinions by which they are carried.

28. The combination with a platen and a linespace wheel, of a clutch composed of friction wheels normally in operative connection, said friction wheels being engaged with the line-space wheel, one of said friction wheels also having a fixed position in relation to the platen, for the united movement of said platen and line-space wheel, and means for disconnecting said friction wheels to render the clutch inoperative and permit relative movement between the platen and line-space wheel.

29. The combination with a platen and a line-space Wheel, of a clutch composed of The combination with a platen and a I friction wheels normally in operative engagement, said friction wheels engaging the line-space wheel, and one of said friction Wheels also having a position in fixed relation to the platen for the united movement of said platen and line-space wheel, the friction wheels at their point of clutch engagement having greater lineal speed than at their point of engagement with the linespace wheel, and means for releasing the clutch engagement, to permit relative movement between the platen and line-space wheel.

30. The combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a clutch composed of friction wheels normally in operative connection, said wheels also having engagement with the line-space wheel and one of them having a position in fixed relation to the platen, for the united movement of said platen and line-space wheel, the point of clutch engagement between said friction wheels being between radii more distant from the axes of said wheels than are their respective points of engagement with the line-space wheel.

31. The combination of a platen, a train comprising a gear, a pinion, a friction wheel connected to said pinion and of larger diameter than the pinion, a friction device cooperating with said wheel to oppose the rotation of the pinion, and a line-space wheel connected to said platen by said train.

The combination of a platen, a train comprising a gear, a pinion, a friction wheel connected to said pinion and of larger diameter than the pinion, a friction device cooperating with said wheel to oppose the rotation of the pinion, a line-space wheel connected to said platen by said train, and a finger-piece connected to means to release said pinion from the control of said friction device, to permit rotation of the platen independently of the line-space wheel.

The combination of a platen, a train comprising a gear, a pinion, a friction wheel connected to said pinion and of larger diameter than the pinion, a pair of devices frictionally engaging said friction wheel to cooperate therewith to prevent rotation of said pinion, and a line-space wheel, said platen and line-space wheel connected by said train.

34:. The combination of a platen, a train comprising a gear, a pinion,'a friction wheel connected to said pinion and of larger di ameter than the pinion, a pair of devices frictionally engaging said friction wheel to cooperate therewith to prevent rotation of said pinion, a line-space wheel, said platen and line-space wheel connected by said train, and means to release said pinion from the opposition of said pair of friction devices.

35. The combination of a platen, a train comprising a gear, a pinion, a friction Wheel connected to said pinion and of larger diameter than the pinion, a pair of devices frictionally engaging said friction wheel to cooperate therewith to prevent rotation of said pinion, and a line-space wheel, said platen and line-space wheel connected by said train, said pair of friction devices being connected to said gear to be rotated thereby.

36. The combination with a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric with said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing with said gear, a friction wheel on said pinion,.means to engage said friction wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, and a line-space wheel connected to saidshaft by said train.

37. The combination with a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric with said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing with said gear, a friction wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a linespace wheel connected to said shaft by said train, and means to release said friction wheel.

38. The combination with a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric with said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing with said gear, a friction wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh with said gear, a friction wheel carried by said second pinion, means to press said friction wheels toegther, and a linespace wheel connected to said shaft by said train.

The combination with a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric with said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing with said gear, a friction wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction Wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh with said gear, a friction wheel carried by said second pinion, means to press said friction wheels together, a line-space wheel connected to said shaft by said train, and means for effecting relative movement of said arms to separate said friction Wheels from each other.

40. The combination with a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric with said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing With said gear, a friction Wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction Wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh with said gear, a friction Wheel carried by said second pinion, a third arm mounted to rotate about said shaft, a friction Wheel on said third arm, means to press all of said. friction Wheels together, and a line-space Wheel connected by said train to said platen.

4:1. The combination With a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric With said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing With said gear, a friction Wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction Wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh With said gear, a friction Wheel carried by said second pinion, a third arm mounted to rotate about said shaft, a friction Wheel on said third arm, means to press all of said friction Wheels together, a linespace Wheel connected by said train to said platen, and means to separate the friction Wheels to permit the rotation of the platen and linespace Wheel.

42. The combination With a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric With said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing With said gear, a .friction Wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction Wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh With said gear, a friction Wheel carried by said second pinion, means to press said friction Wheels together, and a linespace Wheel connected to said shaft by said train, each of said friction Wheels being of greater diameter than its pinion.

43. The combination With a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric With said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing With said gear, a friction Wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction Wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh With said gear, a friction Wheel carried by said second pinion, means to press said friction Wheels together, a line-space Wheel connected to said shaft by said train, each of said friction Wheels being of greater diameter than its pinion, and means for effecting relative movement of said arms to separate said friction Wheels from each other.

44. The combination With a revoluble platen and a platen-driving shaft, of a train of mechanism comprising a gear concentric With said shaft, an arm revoluble about said shaft, a pinion carried by said arm and meshing With said gear, a friction Wheel on said pinion, means to engage said friction Wheel to oppose the rotation thereof, a second arm independently rotatable about said shaft, a pinion carried by said second arm and in mesh With said gear, a friction Wheel carried by said second pinion, a third arm mounted to. rotate about said shaft, a friction Wheel on said third arm, means to press all of said friction Wheels together, and a line-space Wheel connected by said train to said platen, each of said friction Wheels being of greater diameter than its pinion.

45. The combination With a revoluble platen and a line-space Wheel, of a train connecting them and comprising a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, a companion pinion meshing With said gear, and means connected to said pinions for enabling each to frictionally oppose the rotation of the other.

l6. The combination With a revoluble platen and a line-space Wheel, of a train connecting them and comprising a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, a companion pinion meshing With said gear, means connected to said pinions for enabling each to frictionally oppose the rotation of the other, and a finger-piece for effecting release between said pinions.

BURNHAM C. STTCKNEY.

Witnesses:

F. E. ALEXANDER, JULIUS DUCKSTINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

